Hi, I’m Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
I’d like take a moment to talk about an issue that impacts the environment and public
health.
Unnecessary food loss and waste.
Did you know food accounts for the largest share of our municipal solid waste?
It is estimated that between 30 and 40 percent of available food in the United States is
wasted every year.
This translates into missed opportunities to feed those in need and or re-use our food
resources in other creative ways.
And wasted food means wasted water resources.
Recent studies indicate over 20 percent of the water that’s used to grow our food is
wasted because of the large amount of food we throw away every year.
We can do better and we need to.
Food recovery and waste prevention not only helps the environment and those in need, but
it also helps the U.S. business community and ultimately our overall economy better
succeed.
Such prevention and recovery activities account for roughly 50,000 direct and indirect jobs
in the U.S.
Through the USDA-EPA- FDA Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, EPA is encouraging
businesses, non-profit organizations, as well as States, Territories, Tribes and Local Governments
to partner with the federal government to inform consumers on the importance of reducing
food loss and waste through prevention, donation, and recycling strategies.
EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy is also used nationwide.
This is a tool that my agency developed for the public to use to implement the most effective
strategies possible to address this issue.
So let’s make a difference and encourage others to join our cause.
Reducing food waste not only helps those most in need, but it also protects the environment
and makes better use of our natural resources.
Hi, I’m Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
As the world’s population continues to grow, we need to act to reduce food loss and waste.
Our nation's agricultural abundance should be used to nourish those in need, not to fill our landfills.
While it's true that a big percentage of our food supply is lost or wasted,
every component of our supply chain can play an active role in the fight against food loss and waste.
Starting with the producer and ending with the consumer.
Reducing food loss and waste is common sense.
USDA works with farmers, industry and academic partners to research on new technologies
that help reduce food loss and waste.
Businesses across the country are stepping up.
Since 2016, 25 businesses have been named U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 champions.
This is USDA and EPA's campaign that recognizes manufacturers, grocers, restaurants, and other businesses
that have made a commitment to reduce food loss and waste in their operations by 50 percent by 2030.
And we're calling on more businesses to make this commitment also.
Food waste hits the family budget as well.
Each year the average American family of four loses approximately
$1500 to uneaten food.
USDA has created a free tool.
The FoodKeeper App, which offers storage advice for more than 650 food and beverage items.
This resource can help families shop smart and save more.
From the farm to the supermarket to the dinner table, we can all make changes
that will benefit our families, our communities, our environment, and our nation.
Together we can work to fulfill USDA's motto to do right and feed everyone.
Hi.
I’m Ned Sharpless, the Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
FDA has a mandate to help ensure all Americans have access to safe, wholesome food.
Minimizing food waste helps to eliminate food insecurity domestically and abroad.
Addressing the food loss and waste challenges in the U.S. will require innovative thinking
and collaboration among organizations and individuals from all corners of America.
FDA is working with USDA and EPA under a formal agreement to help educate consumers, engage
stakeholders, and develop solutions to reduce food loss and waste.
This is an opportunity to align efforts across the federal government to collectively approach
an important issue that impacts every American.
The priorities we outlined in April provide a roadmap for our future efforts and emphasize
the importance of partnerships with private organizations such as ReFED and the Food Waste
Reduction Alliance.
FDA is committed to improving consumer knowledge about the safety and quality of food purchased,
including understanding what the date labels on packaged foods mean.
We are also committed to working with industry to standardize the way these date labels are
used on packaged foods.
We’ve done this through various consumer educational materials, such as tip sheets
and infographics.
In May, FDA issued a letter to the food industry supporting their efforts to standardize voluntary
date labeling and the use of the phrase, “best if used by” when the date label is related
to product quality.
Consistent date labeling can provide consumers with information that is easier to understand.
We also engage with stakeholders, state, local and tribal health departments to identify
and address obstacles to effective food donation and food recovery.
The goal is to help ensure unsold food that is donated by retailers and food service is
safe and offers a second opportunity to nourish Americans in need.
There’s no reason for safe and wholesome food to go to landfills when we know how many
families struggle to meet their nutritional needs.
Furthermore, we advise companies about repurposing and reconditioning foods so that these products,
when safe, can often be sold or donated rather than being wasted, when feasible and appropriate.
FDA’s experts regularly field questions about what can be done safely with food ingredients
or finished products that may not conform to regulations, industry standards or company
specifications.
We will continue to consider how FDA regulations and guidance impact the ability for food firms
and facilities to safely and legally donate surplus foods.
It is important that public and private organizations understand how emerging technologies and infrastructure
improvements may assist in our collective efforts to reduce food loss
and waste.
We recognize that encouraging more efficient food recovery will require our three agencies to
work closely with stakeholders and encourage new innovations across the food sector.
That’s why my federal partners and I introduced the Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative.
Through a formal agreement and interagency strategy,
we are improving our efforts and bringing new energy and attention to this important issue.